Riverine Squadron gets anti-improvised explosive device

Photo By Sgt. Benjamin Kibbey | Allen Tanaka, a test officer with Joint CREW [Counter Radio-controlled IED Electronic Warfare] Composite Squadron 1, out of Baghdad and Yuma, Ariz., native, uses several radio devices to test the range of the CREW system installed on the patrol boats used by Riverine Squadron 3, near Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq, Dec. 14. Tanaka has worked in the National Counter-Insurgency Counter-Terrorism Test and Evaluation Center directorate at Yuma Proving Grounds for almost 3 1/2 years, testing counter-IED systems, primarily CREW.  

BASRA, IRAQ

12.22.2009

Courtesy Story

Multi-National Division-South

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq — The Sailors of Riverine Squadron 3 are an integral part of the defense of Contingency Operating Base Basra, patrolling the waterways and deterring the threat of indirect-fire attacks against the base through their vigilance.

Yet, while they are watching the backs of everyone on COB Basra, traversing the rivers and canals in open-topped, unarmored boats, there are plenty of threats to their own safety they have to watch for as well.

One such threat, IEDs — whether on bridges they pass under or from the shoreline they patrol — are now a little less threatening, thanks to new anti-IED devices installed on their boats by members of Joint CREW [Counter Radio-controlled IED Electronic Warfare] Composite Squadron 1.

The thorough testing the systems were put through, Dec. 14, near COB Basra took several hours, but revealed that the system's functionality on the boats was even more robust than had been expected.

"Obviously, it's one of those things where it's hard to tell if it's working," said Lt. j.g. Mike Diehl, commanding officer of Yorktown, Va.-based Detachment 1, RIVRON 3, "because, if nothing blows up, you don't really know, so you don't know what you've stopped."

So, being able to watch the civilian contractors from JCCS-1 put the system through its paces served as a definite confidence boost for the Riverines.

"I definitely think the fact that we had the ECM crews come down from Baghdad and actually do live testing, having those guys actually come out and show us all the different tests they can do, definitely inspires much more confidence," he said.

"We have a definite number now that we can associate with the 'bubble'," he said. "It's not the abstract, 'well, we think it works out so far.'"

The simplicity the system allows for crewmen is also a plus, Diehl said.

"It's an easy to use system, it's much more transportable than something like the man-packs," he said. "It's more versatile."

Petty Officer 1st Class Jeremy Houskey, a Riverine Patrol Boat captain with Detachment 1, said he is happy to have the addition to the Riverine arsenal.

"The way they installed it, it seems like it's going to work pretty well," he said.

It reduces space on the boat, Houskey said, but it's worth it.

"All around, it's a good installation, because it's a piece of ECM-ware that can save our crewmen's lives."

Diehl echoed Houskey's sentiments.

"The fact we're able to get it on our boats is definitely something we're excited about," Diehl said. "The lack of what's happened to us is obviously a good sign."

• Date Taken: 12.22.2009
• Date Posted: 12.22.2009 01:35
• Story ID: 43021
• Location: BASRA, IQ